CN108020999B

CN108020999B - Toner container and image forming apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN108020999B
Application number: CN201711010019.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 北川裕章; 宮本光幸
Original assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Current assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2016-11-01
Filing date: 2017-10-25
Publication date: 2020-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-25
Also published as: JP6583213B2; US20180120760A1; CN108020999A; US10054902B2; JP2018072684A

Abstract

The invention provides a toner container and an image forming apparatus. A toner container of the present invention includes a container body, a rotating member, a transmission member, and a swinging member. The container body contains toner. The rotating member is received in the container body and rotates around the rotating shaft. At least a part of the transmission member is exposed to the outside of the container body, and the transmission member transmits the rotation to the rotation member. The swing member is provided axially outside the rotation shaft of the container body. The swing member swings between a first posture and a second posture, in which at least a part of the swing member is moved further outward in the axial direction of the rotary shaft than the first posture. The transmission member moves between a first position and a second position, wherein the second position is a position projecting outward of the rotation shaft in the axial direction than the first position. The transmission member moves from the first position to the second position as the swinging member swings from the first posture to the second posture.

Description

Toner container and image forming apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a toner (toner) container and an image forming apparatus having the toner container.

Background

An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine (multifunction machine) includes a toner container for replenishing toner (developer) to a developing device. For example, there is a toner container having a container body for housing toner, a rotating member, and a transmission member; the rotating component is accommodated in the container body and rotates around the rotating shaft; the transmission member is exposed to the outside of the container body and transmits rotation to the rotation member. In such a toner container, rotation is transmitted from the transmission member to the rotating member in a state where the discharge port provided in the container main body is opened, and thereby the toner in the container main body is conveyed to the discharge port and discharged to the outside of the container main body.

In a case other than the case of using the toner container (for example, the case of storing or transporting the toner container), since it is not necessary to transmit rotation to the rotating member, it is desirable to reduce the amount of projection of the transmission member exposed to the outside in the axial direction of the rotating shaft as much as possible to protect the transmission member. However, when the toner container is used, it is desirable to move the transmission member to a position where it can receive a rotational driving force from an external driving source, toward the outside in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, in order to transmit rotation to the rotary member. However, if a complicated mechanism for moving the transmission member outward in the axial direction of the rotary shaft is provided, the structure of the toner container may be complicated.

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to move a transmission member outward in the axial direction of a rotary shaft with a simple configuration.

A toner container according to an aspect of the present invention includes a container body, a rotating member, a transmission member, and a swinging member. The container body contains toner. The rotating member is received in the container body and rotates about a rotating shaft. At least a part of the transmission member is exposed to the outside of the container body, and the transmission member transmits rotation to the rotation member. The swing member is provided on an axially outer side of the rotation shaft of the container body. The swinging member swings between a first posture and a second posture, in which at least a part of the swinging member is moved more outward in the axial direction of the rotating shaft than the first posture. The transmission member moves between a first position and a second position, wherein the second position is a position that protrudes further outward in the axial direction of the rotary shaft than the first position. The transmission member moves from the first position to the second position as the swinging member swings from the first posture to the second posture.

An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the toner container and a mounting portion to which the toner container is detachably mounted.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a multifunction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the toner cartridge is detached from the mounting portion in the all-in-one multifunction device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a toner cartridge is mounted on a mounting portion in the all-in-one multifunction device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the transmission member is located at the first position and the swing member takes the first posture in the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the transmission member is located at the second position and the swing member takes the second posture in the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a transmission member, a bearing, a swing member, and a communication board in a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge and a mounting portion in the all-in-one multifunction device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shielding member is positioned at the exposure position in the mounting portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a shielding member is positioned at a covering position in an attachment part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing a state immediately before the toner cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion in the all-in-one multifunction device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a multifunction device 1 (an example of an image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Arrows Fr, Rr, L, R, U, and Lo, which are appropriately marked in the respective drawings, respectively indicate the front side, the rear side, the left side, the right side, the upper side, and the lower side of the multifunction integrated machine 1.

First, the overall structure of the multifunction integrated machine 1 will be explained.

As shown in fig. 1, the multifunction device 1 has a box-shaped multifunction device main body 2 (an example of an apparatus main body). An image reading device 3 for reading an image of an original is provided at an upper end portion of the multifunction integrated machine main body 2. A paper discharge tray 4 is provided on the multifunction integrated machine body 2. The multifunction device main body 2 houses an

intermediate transfer belt

5 and 4 image forming units 6 substantially at the center thereof. Each image forming unit 6 corresponds to black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toners (developers) in this order from the rear side. Each image forming portion 6 has a photosensitive drum 7 (an example of an image carrier) and a developing device 8. An exposure device 10 is housed in the lower portion of the multifunction integrated machine body 2. A paper feed cassette 11 for storing sheets S (an example of a recording medium) is housed in a lower end portion of the multifunction integrated machine body 2.

A conveyance path P for the sheet S is provided at the rear side portion of the multifunction integrated machine body 2. A paper feed portion 12 is provided at an upstream end of the conveyance path P. A secondary transfer section 13 is provided in the midstream section of the conveyance path P. A fixing device 14 is provided in a downstream portion of the conveying path P.

In the upper portion of the multifunction integrated machine body 2, 4 toner cartridges 15 (an example of a toner container) are housed below the discharge tray 4. Each toner cartridge 15 corresponds to black, cyan, magenta, and yellow toners in order from the rear side. Each toner cartridge 15 is detachably mounted to a mounting portion 16, and the mounting portion 16 is provided on the multifunction integrated machine body 2.

Next, the operation of the multifunction device 1 will be described.

First, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7 of each image forming portion 6 by light (see a dotted arrow in fig. 1) from the exposure device 10. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 8 of each image forming portion 6. Thereby, the toner image is carried on the photosensitive drum 7. The toner image is primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum 7 of each image forming unit 6 to the intermediate transfer belt 5. Thereby, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 5.

Further, the sheet S taken out of the sheet cassette 11 by the sheet feeding portion 12 is conveyed downstream in the conveying path P, and enters the secondary transfer portion 13. In the secondary transfer section 13, the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 is secondarily transferred to the sheet S. The sheet S secondarily transferred with the toner image is further conveyed downstream in the conveyance path P, and enters the fixing device 14. In the fixing device 14, the toner image is fixed to the sheet S. The sheet S with the toner image fixed thereon is discharged onto the discharge tray 4.

Next, each toner cartridge 15 will be further described.

Arrow O, which is appropriately marked in each of the drawings subsequent to fig. 2 and 2, indicates the outside of each toner cartridge 15 in the left-right direction, and arrow I, which is appropriately marked in each of the drawings subsequent to fig. 2 and 2, indicates the inside of each toner cartridge 15 in the left-right direction.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, each toner cartridge 15 includes a container main body 21, a stirring member 22, a conveying member 23 (an example of a rotating member), an operation handle 24 (an example of an operating member), a cover 25, a shutter member 26, a transmission member 30, a coil spring 31 (an example of an urging member), a bearing 32, a swinging member 33, a communication board 34, and an urging member 35, wherein the stirring member 22 is housed in a central portion of the container main body 21; the conveying member 23 is housed in the rear lower portion of the container body 21; the operation handle 24 is disposed on the right end side of the container body 21; the cover 25 is provided so as to cover the operation handle 24; the shutter member 26 is disposed below the cover 25; the transmission member 30 is disposed on the left end side of the container body 21; the coil spring 31 is disposed on the right side of the transmission member 30; the bearing 32 is mounted on the left side of the transmission member 30; the swinging member 33 is disposed above the transmission member 30; the communication board 34 is fixed to the upper left portion of the swing member 33; the urging body 35 is disposed on the right side of the swinging member 33.

The container main body 21 of each toner cartridge 15 contains toner (developer). The container main body 21 has a housing portion 36, a lid portion 37, a tube portion 38, and a support frame portion 39, wherein the lid portion 37 is provided on the upper side of the housing portion 36; the tube 38 is provided on the lower right side of the housing 36; the support frame 39 is provided on the left side of the storage portion 36.

The storage portion 36 of the container body 21 has a box shape with an open upper side. The housing portion 36 has a shape elongated in the left-right direction. An outer tube portion 40 is provided in a lower portion of the left side wall 36L of the storage portion 36 so as to project to the left (left-right direction outer side), and an inner tube portion 41 is provided in a right (left-right direction inner side) so as to project. The outer cylinder portion 40 and the inner cylinder portion 41 are cylindrical and extend in the left-right direction. A step portion 42 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner tube portion 41. A lower flange 43 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the storage portion 36.

The lid 37 of the container body 21 has a box shape with its lower side open. An upper flange 44 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower end of the lid 37. The upper flange portion 44 is fixed to the lower flange portion 43 of the housing portion 36. Thereby, the housing portion 36 and the lid portion 37 are integrated. The inner space of the lid 37 communicates with the inner space of the storage 36.

The pipe portion 38 of the container main body 21 is cylindrical and extends in the left-right direction. The tube portion 38 is integrally formed with the storage portion 36 of the container body 21, and extends rightward (leftward and rightward outward) from a lower end portion of the right side wall 36R of the storage portion 36. The inner space of the tube 38 communicates with the inner space of the storage 36. A discharge port 45 for discharging toner is provided on the lower surface of the pipe portion 38.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, the support frame 39 of the container main body 21 is integrally formed with the storage portion 36 of the container main body 21 and extends leftward (outward in the left-right direction) from a left side wall 36L of the storage portion 36. The support frame 39 has a pair of front and rear side plates 47 and a top plate 48 connecting upper end portions of the pair of front and rear side plates 47. A shaft hole 49 is provided in a lower portion of each side plate 47. A guide hole 50 is provided in the vertical center portion of each side plate 47. The guide hole 50 is long in the left-right direction.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, the stirring member 22 of each toner cartridge 15 is housed in the housing portion 36 of the container main body 21. The stirring member 22 is provided rotatably. The stirring member 22 has a stirring shaft 52 and a stirring blade 53 attached to the stirring shaft 52. The stirring shaft 52 extends in the left-right direction. The stirring blade 53 is made of, for example, a resin sheet (film), and has a sheet shape.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the left side portion and the right-left direction center portion of the conveying member 23 of each toner cartridge 15 are housed in the housing portion 36 of the container main body 21. The right side portion of the conveying member 23 is housed in the pipe portion 38 of the container main body 21. The conveyance member 23 is provided to be rotatable about a rotation axis a extending in the left-right direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the left-right direction is the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the conveying member 23. The conveyance member 23 is provided on the container body 21 so as to be movable in the left-right direction.

The conveying member 23 has a conveying shaft 54 and a spiral conveying fin (fin)55, wherein the conveying shaft 54 extends in the left-right direction; the conveying fins 55 are provided to protrude from the outer periphery of the conveying shaft 54. A cylindrical connecting cylinder 56 is provided at the left end of the conveying shaft 54. An annular base 57 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the connecting cylinder 56.

The operation handle 24 of each toner cartridge 15 is disposed on the right side (outside in the left-right direction) of the container main body 21. The operation handle 24 has a fulcrum portion 61, a driving protrusion 62, and an operated portion 63, wherein the driving protrusion 62 is protrudingly provided on a right surface (a surface located on the left-right direction outer side) of the fulcrum portion 61; the operated portion 63 extends upward from the fulcrum portion 61. The operation handle 24 is supported rotatably about a fulcrum portion 61 on the right side wall 36R of the storage portion 36 of the container body 21.

The cover 25 of each toner cartridge 15 is fixed to the housing portion 36 of the container main body 21, and covers the right side wall 36R of the housing portion 36 from the right side (the outside in the left-right direction). A window 64 is provided in an upper portion of the cover 25, and an upper end portion of the operated portion 63 of the operation handle 24 is exposed to the outside of each toner cartridge 15 through the window 64.

The shutter member 26 of each toner cartridge 15 is disposed on the right end side of the conveying member 23. The shutter member 26 has a main body 65 and a closing portion 66, and the closing portion 66 is attached to a right end portion (an end portion on the outer side in the left-right direction) of the main body 65.

The body portion 65 of the shutter member 26 is cylindrical and extends in the left-right direction. The right side portion of the conveying member 23 is housed in the main body portion 65. Main body 65 is rotatably attached to the inner periphery of pipe 38 of container main body 21. Thereby, the shutter member 26 is rotatable between a closed position (see fig. 3) where the body portion 65 closes the discharge port 45 of the tube portion 38 and an open position (see fig. 4); the open position is a position where the body 65 opens the discharge port 45 of the tube 38.

The main body portion 65 of the shutter member 26 is provided with a communication port 70. The communication port 70 is provided so as not to communicate with the discharge port 45 of the pipe portion 38 in a state where the shutter member 26 is located at the closed position, and so as to communicate with the discharge port 45 of the pipe portion 38 in a state where the shutter member 26 is located at the open position.

The closing portion 66 of the shutter member 26 is fixed to the main body portion 65 of the shutter member 26. The closing portion 66 has a flat plate portion 73, a support cylindrical portion 74, and a driven protrusion portion 76, wherein the support cylindrical portion 74 is provided to protrude from a left surface (a surface on the left-right direction inner side) of the flat plate portion 73; the driven protrusion 76 is provided to protrude from the right surface (the surface on the left-right outer side) of the flat plate portion 73. The flat plate portion 73 has a flat plate shape along a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction. The flat plate portion 73 closes a right end portion (an outer end portion in the left-right direction) of the main body portion 65 of the shutter member 26. The right end portion of the conveying shaft 54 of the conveying member 23 is rotatably inserted into the support cylinder portion 74.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the transmission member 30 of each toner cartridge 15 is disposed on the left end side of the conveying member 23. The transmission member 30 penetrates an outer cylinder 40 and an inner cylinder 41, wherein the outer cylinder 40 and the inner cylinder 41 are provided on a left side wall 36L of the storage portion 36 of the container body 21.

The transmission member 30 is provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction between a first position (see fig. 3) and a second position (see fig. 4) protruding to the left (the left-right direction outer side) than the first position. The transmission member 30 is provided rotatably about a rotation axis a.

The transmission member 30 has an annular exposed piece 86, an insertion piece 87, and a connection piece 88, wherein the insertion piece 87 protrudes rightward (inward in the left-right direction) from the exposed piece 86; the connecting piece 88 protrudes rightward (inward in the right-left direction) from the insertion piece 87.

The exposure piece 86 of the transmission member 30 is exposed to the outside of the container main body 21. A transmission coupling 90 is provided on the left surface (the surface on the outer side in the left-right direction) of the exposed piece 86. A transmission gear 91 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the exposed piece 86. The transmission gear 91 is connected to the stirring shaft 52 of the stirring member 22 via a connecting gear 92. An attachment surface 93 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the exposure piece 86 on the left side (outside in the left-right direction) of the transmission gear 91.

The insertion piece 87 of the transmission member 30 is inserted into the outer tube portion 40 provided on the left side wall 36L of the storage portion 36 of the container body 21. An annular attachment groove 94 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion piece 87, and an annular seal member 95 is attached to the attachment groove 94. The seal member 95 is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube portion 40.

The connecting piece 88 of the transmission member 30 is inserted into the connecting cylinder portion 56 of the conveying shaft 54 of the conveying member 23, and is connected to the connecting cylinder portion 56. Thereby, the transmission member 30 is fixed to the left end portion of the conveyance shaft 54.

The coil spring 31 of each toner cartridge 15 is disposed on the left end side of the conveying member 23. The coil spring 31 is attached to the outer periphery of the connecting cylinder 56 of the conveying shaft 54 of the conveying member 23. The coil spring 31 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of an inner cylindrical portion 41 provided on a left side wall 36L of the storage portion 36 of the container body 21. The coil spring 31 is attached between a step portion 42 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner tube portion 41 and a seat portion 57 provided projecting on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting tube portion 56. The coil spring 31 urges the transmission member 30 fixed to the conveyance member 23 to the first position (see fig. 3) by pressing the conveyance member 23 to the right side.

Referring to fig. 5 to 7, the bearing 32 of each toner cartridge 15 includes a mounting piece 96 and a pair of front and rear pressed pieces 97, and the pair of front and rear pressed pieces 97 are provided on the outer periphery of the mounting piece 96. The mounting piece 96 has a cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The attachment piece 96 is attached to the attachment surface 93 of the exposed piece 86 of the transmission member 30. Thereby, the bearing 32 rotatably holds the power transmission member 30. A pair of front and rear pressed pieces 97 project radially outward from both front and rear side portions of the outer peripheral surface of the mounting piece 96. An engagement groove 98 is provided on a right surface (a surface on the inner side in the left-right direction) of the pressed piece 97 on the rear side.

The swing member 33 of each toner cartridge 15 is provided on the left side (outside in the left-right direction) of the container body 21. The swing member 33 has a swing shaft portion 100, a first swing portion 101, and a second swing portion 102, wherein the first swing portion 101 is provided on the upper side (first side in the vertical direction) of the swing shaft portion 100; the second swing portion 102 is provided below (on the second side in the vertical direction) the swing shaft portion 100.

Projections 103 are provided to protrude from both front and rear side surfaces of the swing shaft 100 of the swing member 33. Each boss 103 engages with a shaft hole 49 provided in each side plate 47 of the support frame 39 of the container main body 21. As a result, the swing member 33 can swing about the swing shaft 100 between a first posture (see fig. 5) and a second posture (see fig. 6) in which the first swing portion 101 is moved to the right (inward in the left-right direction) than the first posture and the second swing portion 102 is moved to the left (outward in the left-right direction) than the first posture.

Guide projections 104 are provided to protrude from both front and rear side surfaces of the first swing portion 101 of the swing member 33. Each guide projection 104 engages with a guide hole 50 provided in each side plate 47 of the support frame 39 of the container main body 21. Thereby, the swing range of the swing member 33 is limited. A fixing portion 105 is provided at an upper left portion of the first swing portion 101. A pair of front and rear protruding pieces 106 protrude downward from a lower left portion of the first swing portion 101.

The second swing portion 102 of the swing member 33 has a pair of front and rear arms 108 and a pair of front and rear engaging projections 109, and the pair of front and rear engaging projections 109 are provided so as to protrude from the inner surfaces of the lower ends (distal ends) of the pair of front and rear arms 108. The pair of front and rear arms 108 are curved in an arc shape around the rotation axis a. The front and rear pair of engaging projections 109 have a cylindrical shape. The pair of front and rear engaging projections 109 abut the pair of front and rear pressed pieces 97 of the bearing 32. The rear engaging projection 109 is engaged with the engaging groove 98 of the pressed piece 97 provided on the rear side in a state movable in the vertical direction (direction intersecting the horizontal direction). With the above configuration, the power transmission member 30 is connected to the second swing portion 102 via the bearing 32.

Referring to fig. 7, the communication board 34 of each toner cartridge 15 stores various information about each toner cartridge 15 (e.g., a manufacturing number of each toner cartridge 15). The communication board 34 has a flat board

main body

111 and 4 terminals 112, wherein the 4 terminals 112 are mounted on the left surface (the surface on the outer side in the left-right direction) of the board main body 111. The substrate main body 111 is fixed to the fixing portion 105 of the first swing portion 101 of the swing member 33. The 4 terminals 112 are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction and extend in the up-down direction. Note that fig. 5 and 6 do not show the communication board 34.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the urging body 35 of each toner cartridge 15 is formed of, for example, a coil spring. The urging body 35 is attached between the left side wall 36L of the storage portion 36 of the container body 21 and the first swing portion 101 of the swing member 33. The urging body 35 urges the swing member 33 to the first posture (see fig. 5).

Next, the mounting portion 16 will be further described.

Referring to fig. 8, each toner cartridge 15 (only 1 is shown in fig. 8) is detachably mounted to the mounting portion 16 in a mounting direction X from the upper side toward the lower side. The mounting portion 16 is provided with 4 link mechanisms 120 (only 2 are shown in fig. 8) on the right side of the mounting position of each toner cartridge 15. Each of the connection mechanisms 120 includes a first connection member 121 and a second connection member 122, and the second connection member 122 is connected to the first connection member 121 via a gear portion (not shown). The first connection member 121 engages with the driving protrusion 62 of the operation handle 24 of each toner cartridge 15 in a state where each toner cartridge 15 is mounted on the mounting portion 16. The second connecting member 122 engages with the driven projection 76 of the shutter member 26 of each toner cartridge 15 in a state where each toner cartridge 15 is mounted on the mounting portion 16. As described above, each of the connection mechanisms 120 connects the operation lever 24 and the shutter member 26 in a state where each of the toner cartridges 15 is mounted on the mounting portion 16.

Referring to fig. 9 and 10, the mounting portion 16 is provided with 4 drive couplings 123 (only 1 is shown in fig. 9 and 10) on the left of the mounting position of each toner cartridge 15. Each drive coupling 123 is connected to a drive source 124 formed of a motor or the like, and is configured to be rotated by a rotational drive force from the drive source 124.

The mounting portion 16 is provided with 4 communication contacts 126 above each drive coupling 123. The 4 communication contacts 126 are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction. A slope 127 is provided on the right surface of each communication contact 126. The inclined surface 127 is inclined downward (toward the depth side in the mounting direction X) toward the right side.

The mounting portion 16 is provided with a shielding member 128 above each drive coupling 123. Each shielding member 128 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction between an exposure position (see fig. 9) at which each communication contact 126 is exposed and a covering position (see fig. 10) at which each communication contact 126 is covered. Each shielding member 128 is biased to the covering position by a pair of front and rear biasing pieces 129. The pair of front and rear urging pieces 129 is formed of, for example, a coil spring.

The operation of supplying toner from the toner cartridge 15 to the developing device 8 of the image forming unit 6 in the multifunction integrated machine 1 configured as described above will be described on the assumption that the toner cartridge 15 is mounted on the mounting portion 16.

When toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 15 to the developing device 8 of the image forming unit 6, the driving source 124 is driven in a state where the transmission coupling 90 of the toner cartridge 15 is connected to the driving coupling 123 and the discharge port 45 of the toner cartridge 15 is opened (see fig. 4). Thus, when the driving source 124 is driven, the driving coupling 123 is rotated by the rotational driving force from the driving source 124. Thus, when the driving coupling 123 rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the stirring shaft 52 of the stirring member 22 through the transmission member 30 and the connecting gear 92, and the stirring member 22 is rotated. Accordingly, the stirring member 22 stirs the toner contained in the containing portion 36 of the container main body 21.

When the drive coupling 123 rotates as described above, the rotation is transmitted to the conveying member 23 via the power transmission member 30, and the conveying member 23 is rotated. Along with this, as shown by an arrow B in fig. 4, the toner accommodated in the accommodating portion 36 and the tube portion 38 of the container main body 21 is conveyed toward the discharge port 45 by the conveying member 23. The toner thus conveyed to the discharge port 45 is discharged from the discharge port 45 to the outside of the toner cartridge 15 as indicated by an arrow C in fig. 4. The toner discharged from the discharge port 45 is replenished to the developing device 8 of the image forming unit 6 through a supply pipe (not shown).

Next, the operation of opening and closing the discharge port 45 in the multifunction integrated machine 1 configured as described above will be described on the assumption that the toner cartridge 15 is mounted on the mounting portion 16.

When the shutter member 26 is in the closed position, as shown in fig. 3, the discharge port 45 is closed by the main body portion 65 of the shutter member 26.

When the operator such as a user or a service person rotates the operation lever 24 in one direction in a state where the shutter member 26 is located at the closed position, the rotation of the operation lever 24 is transmitted to the shutter member 26 via the connection mechanism 120, and the shutter member 26 is rotated from the closed position to the open position. Thereby, as shown in fig. 4, the main body portion 65 of the shutter member 26 opens the discharge port 45.

On the other hand, when the operator rotates the operation lever 24 in the direction opposite to the one direction in the state where the shutter member 26 is located at the open position, the rotation of the operation lever 24 is transmitted to the shutter member 26 through the connection mechanism 120, and the shutter member 26 is rotated from the open position to the closed position. Thereby, as shown in fig. 3, the main body portion 65 of the shutter member 26 closes the discharge port 45.

Next, an operation of attaching and detaching the toner cartridge 15 to and from the mounting portion 16 in the multifunction integrated machine 1 configured as described above will be described.

Referring to fig. 3 and 5, in a state after the toner cartridge 15 is detached from the mounting portion 16, the swinging member 33 is held in the first posture by the urging force of the urging body 35, and the transmission member 30 is held in the first position by the urging force of the coil spring 31.

When the toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the mounting portion 16, an operator such as a user or a service person inserts the toner cartridge 15 into the mounting portion 16 in the mounting direction X. When the toner cartridge 15 is inserted to a predetermined position in the mounting portion 16, as shown in fig. 11, the projecting pieces 106 of the swing member 33 abut against the inclined surfaces 127 of the communication contacts 126. When the operator further inserts the toner cartridge 15 into the mounting portion 16 in the mounting direction X from this state, the inclined surface 127 of each communication contact 126 presses each protruding piece 106 of the swinging member 33 to the right. By this pressing, as shown in fig. 4 and 6, the swing member 33 swings from the first posture to the second posture against the urging force of the urging body 35. Accordingly, the first swing portion 101 of the swing member 33 moves to the right (inward in the left-right direction), and the second swing portion 102 of the swing member 33 moves to the left (outward in the left-right direction). As described above, when the second swing portion 102 moves to the left, the engagement projections 109 of the second swing portion 102 press the pressed pieces 97 of the bearing 32, so that the bearing 32 moves to the left (the left-right direction outer side), and the transmission member 30 held by the bearing 32 moves from the first position to the second position. Accordingly, the transmission coupling 90 of the transmission member 30 is connected to the drive coupling 123.

Further, as the toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the mounting portion 16, the projecting pieces 106 of the swinging member 33 press the shielding member 128 downward, and the shielding member 128 moves from the covering position to the exposing position against the biasing force of the biasing pieces 129, thereby exposing the communication contacts 126. As described above, when the toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the mounting portion 16, the communication contacts 126 come into contact with the terminals 112 of the communication board 34. Along with this, contact communication can be performed between the toner cartridge 15 and the mounting portion 16.

In this way, in a state where the toner cartridge 15 is mounted on the mounting portion 16, each communication contact 126 presses the communication board 34 fixed to the first swing portion 101 of the swing member 33 to the right side (inside in the left-right direction). Accordingly, the swing member 33 is held in the second posture against the urging force of the urging body 35, and the transmission member 30 is held in the second position against the urging force of the coil spring 31.

When detaching the toner cartridge 15 from the mounting portion 16, the operator pulls out the toner cartridge 15 from the mounting portion 16 in a direction opposite to the mounting direction X. When the toner cartridge 15 is detached from the mounting portion 16, each communication contact 126 is separated from each terminal 112 of the communication board 34. Accordingly, the pressing of the communication board 34 by the communication contacts 126 is released, and the swing member 33 swings from the second posture to the first posture by the urging force of the urging body 35. Accompanying this, the transmission member 30 is moved from the second position to the first position by the urging force of the coil spring 31.

As the toner cartridge 15 is removed from the mounting portion 16 as described above, the pressing of the projecting pieces 106 of the swing member 33 against the shutter member 128 is released. Accordingly, the shielding member 128 moves from the exposure position to the covering position by the biasing force of the biasing pieces 129, and the communication contacts 126 are covered with the shielding member 128.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the swing member 33 is provided swingably between the first posture and the second posture in which the second swing portion 102 is moved leftward (leftward and rightward) with respect to the first posture, the transmission member 30 is provided movably between the first position and the second position protruding leftward (leftward and rightward) with respect to the first position, and the transmission member 30 is moved from the first position to the second position as the swing member 33 swings from the first posture to the second posture. With such a configuration, the transmission member 30 can be moved to the left side with a simple configuration, and the structure of the toner cartridge 15 can be suppressed from being complicated.

The swing member 33 has a swing shaft portion 100, a first swing portion 101, and a second swing portion 102, wherein the swing shaft portion 100 serves as a swing center of the swing member 33; the first swing portion 101 is provided on the upper side (first side in the vertical direction) of the swing shaft portion 100; the second swing portion 102 is provided on the lower side (second side in the vertical direction) of the swing shaft portion 100, the first swing portion 101 moves to the right side (inside in the lateral direction) as the swing member 33 swings from the first posture to the second posture, the second swing portion 102 moves to the left side (outside in the lateral direction) as the swing member 33 swings from the first posture to the second posture, and the transmission member 30 is connected to the second swing portion 102. With this configuration, the swing member 33 can be easily swung from the first posture to the second posture by pressing the first swing portion 101 to the right side.

Further, the toner cartridge 15 includes a bearing 32 rotatably holding the transmission member 30, and as the swing member 33 swings from the first posture to the second posture, the second swing portion 102 presses the bearing 32 to move the bearing 32 to the left (the left-right direction outer side), and the transmission member 30 held by the bearing 32 moves from the first position to the second position. With this configuration, the transmission member 30 can be reliably moved from the first position to the second position without interfering with the rotation of the transmission member 30.

The bearing 32 is provided with an engagement groove 98, the second swing portion 102 is provided with an engagement projection 109, and the engagement projection 109 is engaged with the engagement groove 98 in a state of being movable in the vertical direction (the direction intersecting the horizontal direction). With such a configuration, the bearing 32 can be reliably pressed by the second swing portion 102.

The toner cartridge 15 further includes a coil spring 31 that biases the transmission member 30 to the first position, and the transmission member 30 moves from the second position to the first position by the biasing force of the coil spring 31 as the swing member 33 swings from the second posture to the first posture. With such a configuration, the transmission member 30 can be reliably moved from the second position to the first position as the swing member 33 swings from the second posture to the first posture.

The container body 21 has a discharge port 45 for discharging toner, a conveyance member 23 for conveying the toner in the container body 21 to the discharge port 45 is provided movably in the left-right direction, and the transmission member 30 is fixed to the conveyance member 23. With such a configuration, the transmission member 30 can be smoothly moved in the left-right direction.

The all-in-one multifunction device 1 includes a toner cartridge 15 and a mounting portion 16, and the toner cartridge 15 is detachably mounted on the mounting portion 16. By adopting such a configuration, the toner cartridge 15 can be easily replaced.

However, there is a configuration in which the drive coupling 123 is moved in conjunction with an opening and closing operation of a top cover (not shown) provided in the multifunction integrated machine body 2 or an attachment operation of the toner cartridge 15 to the attachment portion 16, and the drive coupling 123 and the transmission coupling 90 are connected. However, with such a configuration, it is necessary to provide a driving mechanism for moving the driving coupling 123 to the multifunction device main body 2, and therefore, there is a possibility that the configuration of the multifunction device main body 2 becomes complicated. Further, as described above, when the drive coupling 123 is moved in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the top cover, if the top cover cannot be completely opened, the connection between the drive coupling 123 and the transmission coupling 90 may not be released.

However, in the present embodiment, as the toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the mounting portion 16, the mounting portion 16 presses the swing member 33 to swing the swing member 33 from the first posture to the second posture, and the transmission member 30 moves from the first position to the second position to connect the transmission coupling 90 and the drive coupling 123. With such a configuration, since it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for moving the drive coupling 123 to the multifunction integrated machine main body 2, the structure of the multifunction integrated machine main body 2 can be suppressed from being complicated, and space saving of the multifunction integrated machine main body 2 can be achieved. Further, since the connection between the drive coupling 123 and the power transmission coupling 90 can be released regardless of the operation of the member on the multifunction integrated machine main body 2 side such as the top cover, the workability of the operation of attaching and detaching the toner cartridge 15 to and from the mounting portion 16 can be improved.

The toner cartridge 15 further includes a communication board 34 fixed to the swing member 33, and the mounting portion 16 includes a communication contact 126, and the communication contact 126 contacts the communication board 34 as the toner cartridge 15 is mounted to the mounting portion 16. With such a configuration, the swing member 33 can be used for the purpose of connecting the drive coupling 123 and the power transmission coupling 90 and the purpose of bringing the communication contact 126 into contact with the communication board 34. Accordingly, the structure of the multifunction integrated machine 1 can be simplified.

In the present embodiment, the bearing 32 is provided with an engagement groove 98, and an engagement projection 109 that engages with the engagement groove 98 is provided on the second swing portion 102. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, the bearing 32 may be provided with an engagement projection 109, and the engagement groove 98 that engages with the engagement projection 109 may be provided in the second swing portion 102.

In the present embodiment, the power transmission member 30 is connected to the second swing portion 102 via the bearing 32. On the other hand, in other different embodiments, the transmission member 30 may be directly connected to the second swing portion 102.

In the present embodiment, the communication contact 126 of the mounting portion 16 presses the swinging member 33, whereby the swinging member 33 swings from the first posture to the second posture. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, the shutter member 128 of the mounting portion 16 may press the swing member 33, thereby swinging the swing member 33 from the first posture to the second posture. In another embodiment, the swinging member 33 may be swung from the first posture to the second posture by pressing the swinging member 33 at a portion other than the communication contact 126 and the shielding member 128 of the mounting portion 16.

In the present embodiment, the entire conveying member 23 is housed in the container body 21. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, a part of the conveyance member 23 may be housed in the container body 21.

In the present embodiment, a part of the transmission member 30 is exposed to the outside of the container main body 21. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, the entire transmission member 30 may be exposed to the outside of the container main body 21.

In the present embodiment, the main body portion 65 of the shutter member 26 is rotatably attached to the inner periphery of the pipe portion 38 of the container main body 21. On the other hand, in another different embodiment, the shutter member 26 may be rotatably attached to the outer periphery of the pipe portion 38 of the container main body 21.

In the present embodiment, the conveying member 23 is an example of a rotating member. On the other hand, in other embodiments, the stirring member 22 and the like may be an example of a rotating member.

In the present embodiment, the discharge port 45 of each toner cartridge 15 is connected to the developing device 8 of each image forming unit 6 via a supply pipe (not shown). On the other hand, in another different embodiment, the discharge port 45 of each toner cartridge 15 may be directly connected to the developing device 8 of each image forming unit 6.

In the present embodiment, the operation handle 24 and the shutter member 26 of each toner cartridge 15 are connected by the connection mechanism 120 of the mounting portion 16. On the other hand, in other different embodiments, the operation handle 24 and the shutter member 26 of each toner cartridge 15 may be directly connected.

In the present embodiment, the structure of the present invention is applied to the multifunction integrated machine 1. On the other hand, in other different embodiments, the configuration of the present invention may be applied to an image forming apparatus other than the multifunction peripheral 1, such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile.

Claims

1. A toner container having a container body, a rotating member, a transmission member, and a swinging member, wherein,

the container main body is used for containing toner;

the rotating member is housed in the container body and rotates around a rotating shaft;

at least a part of the transmission member is exposed to the outside of the container body, and the transmission member transmits rotation to the rotation member;

the swing member is provided on the container body axially outside the rotary shaft, and has a swing shaft portion serving as a swing center of the swing member, a first swing portion, and a second swing portion; the first swing portion is provided on a first side of the swing shaft portion; the second swinging part is arranged on the second side of the swinging shaft part and is connected with the transmission component;

the swinging member swings between a first posture and a second posture, the second posture being a posture in which the second swinging section is moved further outward in the axial direction of the rotating shaft than the first posture and the first swinging section is moved further inward in the axial direction of the rotating shaft than the first posture,

as the swing member swings from the first posture to the second posture, the transmission member moves from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is a position protruding outward in an axial direction of the rotary shaft from the first position.

2. The toner container according to claim 1,

there is also a bearing for holding the transmission member,

as the swing member swings from the first posture to the second posture, the second swing portion presses the bearing to move the bearing outward in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the transmission member held by the bearing moves from the first position to the second position.

3. The toner container according to claim 2,

either one of the bearing and the second swing portion has an engagement groove,

one of the bearing and the second swing portion has an engagement projection that engages with the engagement groove so as to move in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the rotary shaft.

4. The toner container according to claim 2 or 3,

the first swing portion is provided on an upper side of the swing shaft portion,

the second swing portion is provided below the swing shaft portion.

5. The toner container according to claim 2 or 3,

further comprising a biasing member for biasing the transmission member to the first position,

the transmission member is moved from the second position to the first position by the urging force of the urging member as the swinging member swings from the second posture to the first posture.

6. The toner container according to claim 2 or 3,

the container body has a discharge port for discharging toner,

the rotating member is a conveying member that conveys the toner in the container main body toward the discharge port, the conveying member moving in an axial direction of the rotating shaft,

the transmission member is fixed to the conveying member.

7. An image forming apparatus is characterized by comprising:

the toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and

a mounting portion for mounting the toner container.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7,

the transmission component is provided with a transmission coupling,

the mounting portion has a drive coupling that is rotated by a rotational driving force from a driving source,

when the toner container is mounted on the mounting portion, the mounting portion presses the swing member to swing the swing member from the first posture to the second posture, and the transmission member moves from the first position to the second position to connect the transmission coupling to the drive coupling.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7,

the toner container further has a communication substrate fixed to the swing member,

the mounting portion has a communication contact that comes into contact with the communication substrate as the toner container is mounted to the mounting portion.